Do you really know about the dangerous condition called sepsis? Let's talk about it!

Did you know that sometimes a simple cold, cough, or even a minor injury can turn into a big problem? Similarly, sepsis is a dangerous condition that occurs when our body reacts violently to an infection. This is a real medical emergency and can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of this.

What exactly is sepsis?

Simply put, sepsis is when your body's immune system overreacts to an infection in your body. Normally, when an infection occurs, our immune cells, which are like soldiers in our body, fight it off. But in sepsis, instead of fighting the infection, this immune system starts to damage healthy cells, tissues, and organs in the body. This causes severe inflammation throughout the body. Imagine, at the same time, an abnormal chain reaction in our blood clotting system causes blood clots to form in the blood vessels. Just like when dirt gets stuck in a water pipe and the water stops flowing, these blood clots reduce blood flow to various organs in the body. This can cause serious damage to those organs, and sometimes even cause them to fail. Do you understand how serious that is?

Shall we also learn about the stages of sepsis?

Doctors used to talk about three stages of sepsis: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. But now, they don't divide it into stages like that. Now, it's considered a broader condition. It starts with an infection and bacteremia, which is the presence of bacteria in the blood. From there, it can progress to sepsis, and from there to septic shock. Septic shock is the most severe stage, where multiple organs fail and can even lead to death.

Who is most likely to develop sepsis?

Sepsis can happen to anyone. However, people with an infection, especially those with bacteremia (the presence of bacteria in the blood), are at higher risk. In addition, you are at higher risk if you have any of the following conditions:

• If you are over 65 years old.
• If pregnant .
• If you have chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus , obesity , cancer, and kidney disease .
• If the immune system is weak (e.g., those infected with HIV , those undergoing cancer treatment ).
• If you are hospitalized due to other medical conditions.
• If you have major burns or other serious injuries.
• If you have catheters, IVs, or breathing tubes in your body.

Newborns and young children are also at risk. Their immune systems are not yet fully developed, making it difficult for them to fight off infections.

In the United States alone, more than 1.7 million people are reported to develop sepsis each year. This shows how common it can be. Sepsis is most common among the elderly. The risk increases with age after the age of 65.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

Sepsis can affect many different parts of the body, so there can be many symptoms. The exact symptoms depend on the type of infection that started it. Sometimes, if sepsis is caused by a condition called septicemia, you may develop a rash on your skin. This is called a sepsis rash. This can cause the skin to become red and discolored. You may also see small, dark red spots on your skin. Other common symptoms of sepsis include:

• Decreased urine output or feeling like you need to urinate frequently.
• Weakness/weakness.
• Increased heart rate (fast heart rate).
• Low blood pressure.
• Fever or very low body temperature (hypothermia).
• Body tremors or shivering (chills).
• Skin feels hot or clammy with sweat.
• Confusion or agitation.
• Rapid breathing (hyperventilation) or difficulty breathing.
• Feeling unbearable pain or discomfort.

If you have one or more of these symptoms, especially if you know you have an infection, it is very important to seek medical advice immediately! Don't waste time.

What are the causes of sepsis?

The main cause of sepsis is bacterial infections. However, fungal, parasitic, and viral infections can also cause sepsis. Simply put, sepsis occurs when an infection in your body causes a chain reaction throughout your body, causing your organs to fail. The infection that causes sepsis can start in many different places in your body. The most common types and locations of infection that cause sepsis are:

• Respiratory system:
• Lung infections, for example pneumonia.
• Urinary system:
• Urinary tract infections, especially if you have a catheter.
• Digestive system:
• Appendicitis.
• Intestinal problems.
• Infection of the abdominal cavity (Peritonitis).
• Gallbladder or liver infections.
• Central nervous system:
• Infections of the brain or spinal cord.
• Skin:
• Bacteria can enter through wounds, skin breaks, or through the insertion of catheters and IVs.
• Conditions such as cellulitis (swelling of the connective tissue of the skin).

Is sepsis contagious?

No, sepsis itself is not contagious - meaning you cannot spread sepsis to someone else. However, the infections that cause sepsis (e.g. pneumonia, skin infections) can be spread from person to person. That's why it's so important to practice good hygiene and wash your hands.

How do doctors diagnose sepsis?

It is important to recognize someone with sepsis quickly, because treatment needs to start quickly. There is no single test that can tell for sure if you have sepsis. So doctors combine information from a physical exam, various lab tests, X-rays, and other tests to first determine what the infection is (for example, blood cultures), and then decide whether you have sepsis. Sometimes doctors use a method to quickly determine if a patient has sepsis. It is called qSOFA (quick sequential organ failure assessment) . This involves looking for at least two of the following symptoms along with a confirmed or suspected infection:

• Low blood pressure: Systolic blood pressure (the top number) is less than 100 millimeters of mercury (100 mmHg).
• Increased respiratory rate: Breathing more than 22 times per minute.
• Decreased Glasgow Coma Scale:A score of 15 or less on this scale measuring mindfulness (meaning low mindfulness).

In addition, your doctor may perform several other tests to determine exactly what type of infection you have and whether any organ damage has occurred. For example:

• Blood tests: Complete blood count (CBC), blood cultures, tests to check for abnormal liver and kidney function, blood clotting problems, and electrolyte abnormalities.
• Blood oxygen level: A test that measures the amount of oxygen in your blood.
• Urine tests: Urinalysis and urine culture.
• Imaging tests: Things like X-rays or CT scans.

What are the treatments for sepsis?

Sepsis treatment should begin immediately. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are key. Every minute counts. If a doctor diagnoses you with sepsis, you will usually be admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) for special care. You may receive treatment such as:

• Antibiotics: If you have a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be started as soon as possible.
• IV (intravenous) fluids: Fluids will be given through a vein to keep blood flowing to your organs and prevent your blood pressure from getting too low.
• Vasopressor medications: These medications work by constricting blood vessels. In some cases, they may be necessary to maintain adequate blood pressure.
• Supportive care as needed: If organ failure occurs, for example, kidney failure, dialysis may be needed, or if breathing difficulties occur, other treatments may be needed, such as mechanical ventilation.
• Surgery: Surgery may be necessary to remove damaged tissue or to remove the source of the infection.

How to prevent sepsis?

There are several things you can do to prevent sepsis. These are very simple but very important:

• Practice good hygiene, especially frequent hand washing. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, after using the toilet, and before touching a wound.
• Keeping cuts and other wounds clean and covered until they heal.
• Getting recommended vaccines on time. For example, pneumonia vaccine, flu vaccine, etc.
• If you have chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes), get proper medical treatment and control them.
• If you suspect you have an infection, seek medical advice immediately. If you have symptoms such as fever, body aches, or a wound that is oozing, be sure to see a doctor.

How long does it take to recover from sepsis? What is the outlook?

With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most people with mild sepsis recover. But if left untreated, many people with severe sepsis can die. Even with treatment, 30% to 40% of people with the most severe stage of sepsis, called septic shock, die. Septic shock can cause death in as little as 12 hours. That's why it's called an emergency. Even after surviving sepsis, some people still die in the months and years that follow. But researchers still don't know for sure whether this increased risk of death is due to having had sepsis before or because of another underlying health condition. That's why it's important for people who have survived sepsis to continue to take care of their health.

Are there any long-term effects after sepsis?

With prompt treatment, most people with sepsis recover completely and go on to live normal lives. However, some people may experience long-term effects. You may develop complications such as:

• Insomnia.
• Having nightmares or hallucinations.
• Panic attacks.
• Joint and muscle pain.
• Decreased cognitive functioning - This means impairment in things like learning, memory, attention, and decision-making.
• Organ failure (e.g., progressive kidney failure).

Also, you are at higher risk of developing sepsis again. Therefore, it is very important to seek treatment immediately if you develop a new infection.

What should I do to recover after returning home?

After you recover from sepsis and return home from the hospital, you will likely need to continue rehabilitation treatments because your body has been under a lot of stress. When you get home, you may experience the following: Physical effects:

• Fatigue and weakness.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Body pain.
• Difficulty moving around and sleeping.
• Loss of appetite and/or weight loss.
• Dry, itchy skin.
• Nails break easily.
• Hair loss.

Mental and emotional effects:

• Wanting to be alone.
• Flashbacks.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Anxiety and/or depression.
• Frustration and anger.
• Loss of consciousness.

Your doctor will help you develop a plan to move forward on your recovery journey. At first, you will work on small, achievable goals, such as bathing and getting dressed. You will also try to rebuild your physical strength, and it is important to take care of your mental health. Talk to your family, friends, and doctor about how you are feeling. It will take time, but eventually you will start to feel better. It is important to be patient.

The most important thing we need to remember is

Okay, so the sepsis we've been talking about is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening. To prevent sepsis, it's essential to get immediate treatment for any infection. If you delay getting treatment, even a minor infection can turn fatal.

If you have an infection, it doesn't get better, or if it seems to be getting worse (e.g., fever increases, difficulty breathing, changes in consciousness), see a doctor or go to a hospital immediately without delay.

Remember, if left untreated, sepsis can lead to serious complications and even death. So you need to be very careful about this, right? Your life is precious!